Vet said lungs clear but still sounds bad

[Rhobbs0223]

My male Pewter seems to have all the RI is out of the lungs. But my boy still seems to have some trouble breathing. Anyone else dealt with something like this? He is better but still hearing some breathing trouble.

[Albert Clark]

My male Pewter seems to have all the RI is out of the lungs. But my boy still seems to have some trouble breathing. Anyone else dealt with something like this? He is better but still hearing some breathing trouble.

He is still healing and needs to have his temps on the higher side to boost his immune system for awhile. I would up the warm side of his enclosure a couple to a few degrees. Keep his feedings on schedule and if possible consider giving him a extra feeding. He can use the added nutrition. Good luck.

[Rickys_Reptiles]

Albert Clark - How are you offering advice without asking any questions?

Rhobbs0223 - What have you done for your snake so far, treatment wise?

[Rhobbs0223]

His temps are high (between 93-95. He has been to the vet and gotten 5 rounds of Gentamicin. He was also receiving oral medication nightly during this. His humidity was kept above 60 until Friday now it is kept 45-50 consistently.

[Rickys_Reptiles]

Ok. Did you vet take a culture, either with a trachea swab or a lung wash?

93-95 is pretty high. Is that just the hot spot? What is the ambient temperature?

[Rhobbs0223]

No culture. By the time I asked he advised against it. Yes that is just on the hot spot. Ambient is around 80.

[Rickys_Reptiles]

No culture. By the time I asked he advised against it. Yes that is just on the hot spot. Ambient is around 80.

grrr...I'm always hesitant when I hear that. And GOOD vet will run a culture to make sure that it's the correct meds.

My advice, based on my own opinions only, is to be neurotic. Keep the enclosure clean, warm and humid. If you notice any bubbles, or phlegm on the walls of the enclosure/tub/tank... go to the vet and demand a culture.

Goodluck!

[Albert Clark]

Albert Clark - How are you offering advice without asking any questions?

Rhobbs0223 - What have you done for your snake so far, treatment wise?

I gave a simple bit of advice to a relatively simple condition sir. Any animal that has just had a course of antibiotics is going to be slow to recover fully and should be babied with extra care until such time that the owner is comfortable that his symptoms have subsided. What I've done for my reptiles is documented in my records and for starters you can check the center for Avians and Exotics in Westchester county N.Y.C. Laurie Hess DVM. It sounded like the OP made it clear that the vet said the lungs were clear but that the owner still had concerns! I listened to the chief complaint and offered a IMO answer. Stay in peace and not pieces. Enjoy the evening.

[Albert Clark]

grrr...I'm always hesitant when I hear that. And GOOD vet will run a culture to make sure that it's the correct meds.

My advice, based on my own opinions only, is to be neurotic. Keep the enclosure clean, warm and humid. If you notice any bubbles, or phlegm on the walls of the enclosure/tub/tank... go to the vet and demand a culture.

Goodluck!

The other possibility is maybe the vet felt like he should go with a first line antibiotic and see if the condition resolves. Sometimes animals get treated symptomatically first, along with microscopic evidence prior to a culture or tracheal wash which is much more invasive. So, in the meantime keep your husbandry on point and bump or keep both the ambient and hot spot temps in the low 90's. Stay in peace and not pieces. Good luck!!